how does changing the ph affect enzyme function and the amou

how does changing the ph affect enzyme function and the amount of simple sugars produced?

Solution

Answer :

Effect of pH on enzyme activity

Enzymes have an optimum pH at which their activity is maximal and at higher or lower pH, activity decreases.Amino acid side chains in the active site of enzymes may act as weak acids and bases with critical functions that depend on their maintaining a certain state of ionization, and elsewhere in the protein ionized side chains may play an essential role in the interactions that maintain protein structure. Low pH would protonate the side chains of the amino acids while high pH would cause deprotonation of side chains. This change in ionization (protonation/deprotonation) alters the 3-D shape of the protein/denaturation. In case of enzymes(which are proteins) the binding of the substrate to the catalytic site is greatly influenced by the pH. Optimal pH would facilitate maximal binding of the substrate to the enzyme hence more products can be formed. So, Ionisation fo the side of amino acids of the enzyme active sites decreases the ezyme activity.